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St James’s Park London

Oct 17, 2023 Trips

St James’s Park in London is one of the smaller royal parks, but perhaps the most famous. Buckingham Palace, St James’s Palace, Horse Guards,  the lake, and many memorials make up the park and its immediate surroundings, plus Westminster, Downing Street, and more famous spots are close by. 

Purchased by HenryVIII nearly 500 years ago, it has served as a deer hunting area (St James Palace was initially a hunting lodge – crazy to think an area in the heart of modern London was once the King’s hunting grounds), a zoo of sorts containing exotic animals, grazing for cows, and “a meeting place for impromptu acts of lechery.” It opened to the public in the 17th century and Buckingham Palace became the principal royal residence in the early 19th century. 

Today, I’m pretty sure the King no longer hunts there, the wildest animals (not counting humans) are the non-native pelicans, and lawns are too short for grazing. It’s unclear if impromptu acts of lechery still occur.

All photos from spring 2023.

Looking across St James’s Park Lake, the Blue Bridge, to the Horse Guard grounds and Whitehall and the Old War Office buildings beyond.
Various waterfowl call the park home, including pelicans that were introduced to the park in 1664 as a gift from the Russian ambassador to King Charles II. I guess that answers the question of what you get the person that has everything.
A pelican preening in the light.
Swans vying for equal attention.
The Mall that leads from near Trafalgar Square to Buckingham Palace.
Leaving St James’s Park and into The Green Park.

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